Oklahomans petition to secede from USA

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Call it an election day fallout.

People from dozens of states, including Oklahoma, are continuing efforts to actually secede from the United States of America.

This anti-government movement is gaining steam, ironically, on the official White House website.

That's where a number of petitions can be found, including those looking to take a few stars off the U.S. flag.

Should Oklahoma leave the U.S. and form its own government?

"I don't think we should be our own country," one voter said in downtown Oklahoma City.

"That sounds ridiculous," another one said while laughing.

The thought might be a joke to some but it's an actual effort on the White House website under the "We The People" section.

In fact, residents in more than half of the 50 states have started petitions to secede from the U.S., with Oklahoma right along with them.

The reasons include concerns about gun control, Obamacare and the economy.

If 25,000 signatures are collected within a month, the White House said they'll consider the petition.

"Seceding from the Union is not the answer," State Senator (D) Al McAffery said Tuesday.

McAffery believes unfounded fear is driving these petitions in the wake of President Obama's re-election.

"I'm just saying to the people of Oklahoma, stand with us," McAffery said. "We are not, the Democratic party is not going to do something crazy."

But Sooner Tea Party organizer Al Gerhart said this anti-government sentiment started after Obama's election four years ago.

"They're afraid of Obamacare," he said Tuesday. "Basically, creeping socialism with this federal government that's telling Oklahomans what we can and can't do."

We found some Oklahomans who are not writing off the idea of seceding.

"I don't like how welfare is set up," one woman said. "I don't like how you can have kids and they (federal government) pay for it."

"Well if we did (secede), we would definitely be energy independent," another person said.

Seceding would go against an 1866 presidential proclamation that states "no state, of its own will, has a right or power to go out of, or separate itself from, or be separated from the American Union."

But the White House said those petitions with 25,000 signatures will be sent to policy experts and receive an official response.

As of Tuesday evening, Oklahoma had more than 18,000 signatures over two petitions.

Texas already has more than 82,000.

Gov. Fallin said in a written statement Tuesday evening, "Oklahoma is not going to secede from the Tnion."